First the A's, now the 49ers

[Bored 0]

This had been an idle threat before by the 49ers' ownership in the past but now it appears it will happen. Of course in the NFL a team playing outside the city it represents is hardly unheard of.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnRf...p&type=lgns

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers intend to replace dingy Candlestick Park with a state-of-the-art stadium -- and now they want to do it in Santa Clara.

 

After years of planning for a stadium in the city that has been the franchise's home for six decades, owner John York officially changed his club's focus Thursday from Candlestick Point to this Silicon Valley suburb 30 miles south of San Francisco.

 

While insisting the 49ers never will leave the San Francisco Bay Area or change their name, York cited several factors that made it impossible to continue the team's planning for a stadium and an accompanying commercial complex -- which would help fund the arena's construction -- on a thin strip of land in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco.

 

York is determined to open the new stadium for the 2012 season. But he said an extensive study of the Candlestick Point site proved it wasn't feasible, citing extensive costs for infrastructure, parking accommodations and other changes that would cost more than the stadium itself.

 

"We truly wish that the results were different," said York, who wrested control of the storied franchise from his brother-in-law, Eddie DeBartolo, in the late 1990s. "We were the last to be convinced. We made this decision as a family, and in the end we were able to come to this conclusion by thinking about the challenges from the fans' perspective."

 

Just four months after claiming the team was concentrating all of its stadium efforts on that privately financed stadium and entertainment complex on Candlestick Point, York called San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday night and informed him of the decision.

 

The move also jeopardizes San Francisco's quest to host the 2016 Olympics.

 

"We'll look at any and all options," said Jesse Blout, San Francisco's director of economic development. "The mayor wants to win these Olympics. We were certainly caught off guard."

 

While refusing to say the city would withdraw from the process, Blout and Jaime Rupert, director of communications for the San Francisco bid, gave every indication the stadium news put the bid on life support. The stadium was to be used for opening and closing ceremonies and track and field.

 

Now the 49ers are headed for the open spaces and burgeoning population of Silicon Valley, currently home to only the NHL's San Jose Sharks among major sports franchises.

 

The Oakland Athletics also seem determined to follow the money to the Bay Area's financial epicenter. They're expected to announce plans soon for a stadium in Fremont -- about 20 miles from both Oakland and San Jose.

 

For practical purposes, the 49ers' proposed move 30 miles south in the Bay Area will make little difference to the club's fan base. The team's training complex and offices have been located on Santa Clara's Centennial Boulevard since 1987, across the street from an overflow parking lot for the Great America amusement park amid acres of industrial parks and apartments.

 

But the 49ers' identity will be forever changed if the club moves away from Candlestick Point and its dilapidated, wind-swept stadium -- the home to several of the most memorable playoff games in NFL history during San Francisco's run to five Super Bowl championships in the past quarter-century.

 

Before the 49ers moved to Candlestick Park on the waterfront near the southern boundary of the city in 1971, they played their first 25 seasons at Kezar Stadium, a charming, cramped field that still sits in the heart of San Francisco, just a short walk from the Haight-Ashbury district. Coach Mike Nolan saw his first 49ers games there when his father, Dick, ran the club.

[the max 0]

Sports talk radio: OMG PUT THE TEAM IN LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[razazteca 0]

LA might have 3 NBA teams now that the Kings are asking for a new arena.

[NoCalMike 0]

This sucks. As a Sacramento resident, Oakland/SF are just right in the range where the drive is mildy annoying but not bothersome, but if these moves are made, it changes to driving through the Bay Area to get to the destinations.

 

I am not so much concerned with the 49ers move because I only go there when the Redskins come to SF, but the A's move is going to upset me because I usually drive to approx 20 games a season.

[Guest Felonies!]

Yeah, but on the plus side, you won't be driving to Oakland.

[Darthtiki 0]

It's official Northern California cities don't care about sports teams. I wish people would see the economic benefits in building a new building, especially in SF and Sacramento.

[Richard 0]

It's official Northern California cities don't care about sports teams. I wish people would see the economic benefits in building a new building, especially in SF and Sacramento.

 

They do care about the niners, which is why York has gotten away with gutting the team. If fans abandoned them completely, York would be forced to not be such a cheap bastard and buy some decent players.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I think he mean the cities, not the fans residing within them.

 

So, if they renovate Candlestick Point, it'll cost too much money, but it'll also cost them the Olympics down the road. Won't hosting the Olympics 4 years after the stadium is completed help bring back the money?

 

I don't like the idea of the "Santa Clara 49ers." I know they're not changing the name, but I strongly dislike when a team doesn't actually play in the city that they represent.

[Guest]

I think it's because the players don't want to live in a city full of fags. That's why management put out that video a few years ago.

 

I'm only kidding, but I still don't see why the team should get moved out of the city.

[C Dubya 04 0]

I just went out and saw the Eagles play there this year and I've got to say that that stadium is a dump. They could really use a new place. And it's not exactly the easy place in the country to find available land right now, so this move doesn't totally shock me.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

The New York Giants/Jets have played in Jersey for how long now? BFD. The team will still stink.

[Guest Princess Leena]

And many teams don't live in the city they represent, anyway. This doesn't matter. Bills, Cowboys, Redskins, Giants, Jets, etc...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

It's official Northern California cities don't care about sports teams. I wish people would see the economic benefits in building a new building, especially in SF and Sacramento.

What benefits?

[NoCalMike 0]

It's official Northern California cities don't care about sports teams. I wish people would see the economic benefits in building a new building, especially in SF and Sacramento.

What benefits?

 

 

Well for Sacramento, look at the model of Baltimore/Cleveland/San Antonio....all smaller-big cities, putting new arenas in their downtown area boosted the economies, sparked growth and was good for all the existing and new business that sprouted, also it brings in a lot more business from people who wouldn't ordinarily be there.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Or, you could be like Buffalo and lose tons of money.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

God bless the free market.

 

And I repeat Al's question of "What benefits?"

[Bored 0]

Umm, knowing your hard earned money helped a billionaire fulfill his dream of having more luxury boxes?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Talks are re-opening again after San Francisco actually wants to introduce a bill to not let a team that plays outside of the city that it represents carry the name of the team.

 

Talks re-open amid 49ers move fallout

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- While Mayor Gavin Newsom attempted to resurrect talks with the 49ers' ownership over building a stadium, a state lawmaker said Friday that he would try to bar the team from using the name San Francisco if it leaves town.

 

One day after team announced it was done negotiating with Newsom and was now committed "100 percent" to moving to Santa Clara, team owner John York reopened the door ever so slightly by saying he would listen to any new ideas from San Francisco. But York reiterated that the team was still sitting down with Santa Clara officials.

 

York and Newsom met Friday morning at the prompting of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a San Francisco resident and former mayor who also attended the meeting.

 

"At that meeting, York once again explained that the present plan at Candlestick Point does not work for the team's fans," the team said in a statement. "Sen. Feinstein and Mayor Newsom requested the opportunity to explore other options with the 49ers in San Francisco. York reiterated that he was happy to listen to those proposals, but stated that the 49ers were moving forward with their planned talks with the City of Santa Clara."

 

Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno said he is looking into introducing a bill that would prohibit professional sports teams not based in the city from using San Francisco in their names unless authorized by the mayor and board of supervisors.

 

"The name San Francisco has cachet all over the world as a No. 1 destination spot," said Leno, who represents the part of San Francisco where the Niners play their home games. "I don't think San Francisco's name should automatically be able to be used by a franchise that is not located in the city."

 

York insisted the 49ers won't leave the San Francisco Bay area or change their name.

 

Newsom said that he would not get into a bidding war with Santa Clara.

 

"We have respect for the 49ers' management and franchise and the mayor is always open to discussions," said Peter Ragone, the mayor's spokesman. "At the same time, he is committed to being a responsible steward of the public interest of San Francisco."

 

The 49ers stunned local politicians Thursday when they announced they had abandoned their decade-long attempts to build a stadium and a massive commercial-residential development on Candlestick Point, their San Francisco home since 1971.

[Darthtiki 0]

The Hunter's Point area of San Francisco (where Candlestick is located) has been a "blighted ghetto area" for years and if it were to be redeveloped ala what they did across town with PacBell/SBC/Cingular/AT&T Park, it would help revitalize more of San Francisco back into a destination as opposed to the steaming cesspool it currently is. Additionally, I think there is enough blame to go around on this, York because he is a complete fuckhead for driving a storied franchise into the ground and Gavin Newsom, who is nowhere the type of get things done mayor that Willie Brown was and believe me if Willie was still in charge this shit would not be an issue.

 

As for Sacramento, I hope they stay but if they decide to pull a Baltimore Colts and head to Orange County, I'll be the first one to welcome them all the while I give the bird to my hometown and its fucking moron people who couldn't see the benefits of a new building because Arco is showing its age.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Umm, knowing your hard earned money helped a billionaire fulfill his dream of having more luxury boxes?

 

Silly me. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

You know, for all the hippie/commie/etc. jokes I make about California, I have to give Los Angeles credit for not wanting a football stadium built with tax dollars.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

San Francisco should put the new stadium in the Tenderloin.

[Guest Felonies!]

"Orange County Kings" sounds like more of a gang than a sports team, but given that it's the NBA, it's perfectly appropriate.

[RepoMan 0]

They could just call the team the Sacramento Kings of Anahiem.

 

I don't think the move to Santa Clara is a big deal. Plus, it's hard to incourage redevelopment around a football stadium when it only hosts 10 games a year if they stayed in SF. If I'm a SF resident I'd just assume to let Santa Clara pay the tab for the new stadium.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Umm, knowing your hard earned money helped a billionaire fulfill his dream of having more luxury boxes?

 

Silly me. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

You know, for all the hippie/commie/etc. jokes I make about California, I have to give Los Angeles credit for not wanting a football stadium built with tax dollars.

 

My theory is that USC and UCLA have huge followings and they wouldn't want to share the spotlight with a NFL team. Also, there is plan to renovate the Colisseum. If it ever gets voted it on, it will cost $800 million.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Also, Southern California is much more conservative (more like moderate, really) than its northern neighbor. They're really like two complete opposites. You can cut the division right from (at least what I think) Ventura County on south. Going up the coastline, once you go into Santa Barbara Co., you're in hippieville.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

it would help revitalize more of San Francisco back into a destination as opposed to the steaming cesspool it currently is.

 

When did this happen?

[RepoMan 0]

Can't argue with Darthtiki's logic. Detriot is know so much safer after the built Ford Field.

[Bored 0]

The A's had their press conference today announcing the move to Fremont and they mentioned that the name of team will included "of Fremont" just like the Angels with Anaheim. Oh fucking hell.

[Darthtiki 0]

Also, Southern California is much more conservative (more like moderate, really) than its northern neighbor. They're really like two complete opposites. You can cut the division right from (at least what I think) Ventura County on south. Going up the coastline, once you go into Santa Barbara Co., you're in hippieville.

 

Actually the breakdown is more conservative throughout the central valley and North state (except Del Norte, & Humboldt), then the coastline (with the exception of Ventura County, the majority of Orange and North San Diego County) is left. Sorry, it's the political animal in me that comes out when breaking down this fucked up state.

 

As for my comment about the steaming cesspool, I have a hatred of SF, then again I'm a Dodger fan.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I try not to venture into the areas that you just mentioned. The Central Valley, including its steaming rotten cesspool of a capital, Bakersfield, is a piece of California I wish sometimes, didn't exist if it wasn't for its agricultural resources.

 

You'll understand when you move to Southern California. The division is right on the border of Ventura County, I'm telling you. I lived next to the border in one of the state's most (surprisingly) conservative towns (Santa Clarita) about half my life.

 

And I mean this all relatively speaking, of course. Conservative for California really tends to be about moderate on the grand political scale.